cleat

Etymology

From Middle English clete, from Old English *clēat, clēot, from Proto-Germanic *klautaz (“firm lump”), from Proto-Indo-European *gelewd-, from *gley- (“to glue, stick together, form into a ball”). Cognate with Dutch kloot (“ball; testicle”) and German Kloß. See also clay and clout.

noun

1. A strip of wood or iron fastened on transversely to something in order to give strength, prevent warping, hold position, etc.
   I had learned that cattle willingly walk down a ramp that has cleats to provide secure, nonslip footing. 1995, Temple Grandin, Thinking in Pictures, page 6
2. A continuous metal strip, or angled piece, used to secure metal components.
3. (nautical) A device to quickly affix a line or rope, and from which it is also easy to release.
4. A protrusion on the bottom of a shoe or wheel meant for better traction.
5. An athletic shoe equipped with cleats.
   He needs to put on five pieces of gear: his helmet, left glove, right glove, left cleat, and right cleat. 2020, Allyssa Loya, Sporty Bugs and Errors, page 26

verb

1. To strengthen with a cleat.
2. (nautical) To tie off, affix, stopper a line or rope, especially to a cleat.